An object travels at a constant speed of 5 feet per second. How many feet will it travel in exactly one hour at this speed?

Introduction / Context:
This problem is a straightforward application of the relationship between speed, time, and distance. Many aptitude and school level questions involve such unit conversions, especially when changing from seconds to minutes or hours. Correctly handling units is crucial because a small mistake in unit conversion can dramatically change the final answer, even when the arithmetic itself is simple.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Speed of the object = 5 feet per second.
• Time of travel = 1 hour.
• We need to find the total distance traveled in feet.
• The speed is constant throughout the hour.

Concept / Approach:
The basic formula connecting distance, speed, and time is: distance = speed * time. Here, speed is given in feet per second, while time is specified in hours. To use the formula correctly, both must be in compatible units. We can either convert speed to feet per hour or convert time to seconds. Because 1 hour equals 60 minutes and each minute has 60 seconds, 1 hour equals 3600 seconds. Once we know the total number of seconds in one hour, we multiply by the speed in feet per second to get the total distance in feet.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the formula. distance = speed * time. Step 2: Convert time from hours to seconds. 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each minute = 60 seconds. So, 1 hour = 60 * 60 = 3600 seconds. Step 3: Multiply speed by time in seconds. Speed = 5 feet per second. Time = 3600 seconds. distance = 5 * 3600 = 18000 feet. Therefore, the object travels 18000 feet in one hour.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to think about this is to first find the distance covered in one minute. At 5 feet per second, in one minute there are 60 seconds, so distance per minute is 5 * 60 = 300 feet. Then, in one hour, which has 60 minutes, the distance is 300 * 60 = 18000 feet. This alternative method leads to the same result and checks the correctness of the earlier calculation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
3000: This would correspond to a much shorter time period or a lower speed; it is far less than the correct distance for one full hour at 5 feet per second.
1800: This is the distance traveled in 6 minutes at 5 feet per second (5 * 60 * 6), not in one hour.
15000: This could result from mixing up conversions or using 50 minutes instead of 60; it does not match the correct product 5 * 3600.
3600: This is the number of seconds in an hour, not the distance in feet. Confusing time and distance is a common unit error.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students forget to convert hours into seconds and mistakenly multiply 5 by 60 or 5 by 600. Others compute 5 * 60 and stop, assuming that is enough. Keeping careful track of units and knowing that one hour equals 3600 seconds are essential. It helps to write out all conversion steps explicitly before performing multiplications.

Final Answer:
The object travels 18000 feet in one hour.